Door mounted vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A vehicle includes a body and a door moveable relative to the body between the open and closed position. The vehicle includes a seat fixed relative to the door. The seat includes a seat back and a seat bottom. The body has a longitudinal axis, and the seat bottom extends from the seat back toward the longitudinal axis along a cross-vehicle direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the door is in the closed position.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle may include a vehicle body and a plurality of doors. Thevehicle may include seats for supporting occupants. The seats may bemounted to a floor of the vehicle, and the doors may be opened andclosed to allow for occupant ingress and egress. One arrangement of theseats is where the seats are in a forward-facing orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle that includes a body and doorsin a closed position, with the body and doors shown in broken lines toshow seats mounted to the doors inside the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle with the doors in the openposition.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the vehicle with the body and the doors inbroken lines to show the seats inside the vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vehicle with the seats shown inhidden lines.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle with the doors of a leftside of the vehicle removed to show locking members.

FIG. 6 is a side view of one of the doors including a reinforcement anda locking member shown in hidden lines.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the door and a track of the seat mountedto the door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like partsthroughout the several views, a vehicle 10 includes a body 12 having alongitudinal axis L, and a door 14, 16 supported by the body 12. Thedoor 14, 16 is moveable relative to the body 12 between open and closedpositions. The vehicle 10 includes a seat 18 fixed relative to the door14, 16. The seat 18 includes a seat back 20 and a seat bottom 22. Theseat bottom 22 extends from the seat back 20 toward the longitudinalaxis L along a cross-vehicle direction perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis L when the door 14, 16 is in the closed position.

The seat 18 may include a track 24 fixed to the door 14, 16. The track24 supports the seat bottom 22 on the door 14, 16. The track 24 may becantilevered from the door 14, 16. The seat bottom 22 may be moveablealong the track 24 in the cross-vehicle direction when the door 14, 16is in the closed position. The vehicle 10 may include a seat motor 26,as identified in FIG. 2, engaged with the seat bottom 22 and the track24 to move the seat 18 along the track 24. The door 14, 16 may include adoor outer 28, a door inner 30, and a reinforcement 32 between the doorouter 28 and the door inner 30. The track 24 may be supported by thereinforcement 32.

The vehicle 10 may include a rocker 34 below the door 14, 16 in theclosed position, and locking members 36 between the rocker 34 and thedoor 14, 16, the locking members 36 releasably locking the rocker 34 andthe door 14, 16 to each other.

The vehicle 10 may include a rocker 34 below the door 14, 16 in theclosed position, wherein the door 14, 16 includes a door outer 28, adoor inner 30, and a reinforcement 32 between the door outer 28 and thedoor inner 30, and the vehicle 10 further includes locking members 36releasably locking the rocker 34 and the door 14, 16 to each other.

The door 14, 16 may include a door outer 28, a door inner 30, and areinforcement 32 between the door outer 28 and the door inner 30, thetrack 24 being supported by the reinforcement 32.

The vehicle 10 may include a second door 14, 16 supported by the body 12and moveable relative to the body 12 between open and closed positions,and a second seat 18 fixed relative to the second door 14, 16, thesecond seat 18 including a seat back 20 and a seat bottom 22, the seatback 20 and the seat bottom 22 of the second seat 18 extending from theseat back 20 of the second seat 18 toward the longitudinal axis L alongthe cross-vehicle direction when the second door 14, 16 is in the closedposition. The door 14, 16 and the second door 14, 16 may be adjacent toeach other in the closed position, and the vehicle 10 may includelocking members 38 between the door 14, 16 and the second door 14, 16,the locking members 38 releasably locking the door 14, 16 and the seconddoor 14, 16 to each other when the door 14, 16 and the second door 14,16 are in the closed position. When the door 14, 16 and the second door14, 16 are in the open position, the seat bottom 22 of the seat 18 mayextend from the seat back 20 of the seat 18 toward the second seat 18,and the seat bottom 22 of the second seat 18 may extend from the seatback 20 of the second seat 18 toward the seat 18. The vehicle 10 mayinclude a forward pillar 40, a rearward pillar 42, and a door opening 50extending continuously from the forward pillar 40 to the rearward pillar42, the door 14, 16 being hinged to the forward pillar 40, and thesecond door 14, 16 being hinged to the rearward pillar 42. The door 14,16 and the second door 14, 16 may abut each other between the forwardpillar 40 and the rearward pillar 42 when the door 14, 16 and the seconddoor 14, 16 are in the closed position.

The door 14, 16 and the second door 14, 16 may be spaced from each otheron opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L. When the door 14, 16 andthe second door 14, 16 are in the closed position, the seat bottom 22 ofthe seat 18 may extend from the seat back 20 of the seat 18 toward thesecond seat 18, and the seat bottom 22 of the second seat 18 may extendfrom the seat back 20 of the second seat 18 toward the seat 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the vehicle 10 may include a door motor52 between the body 12 and the door 14, 16 to move the door 14, 16relative to the body 12 between the open position and the closedposition.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat 18 moves with the door 14, 16as the door 14, 16 is moved between the closed position, as shown inFIG. 1, and the open position, as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, sincethe seat bottom 22 extends from the seat back 20 toward the longitudinalaxis L along the cross-vehicle direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis L when the door 14, 16 is in the closed position, anoccupant of the seat 18 faces in the cross-vehicle direction when thedoor 14, 16 is in the closed position. This position of the occupant maybe convenient during operation of the vehicle 10, allowing the occupantto interact with other occupants of the vehicle 10. This may beparticularly convenient in an example where the vehicle 10 is anautonomous vehicle 10 in which occupant input is not required to operatethe vehicle 10. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, since the seat 18 moveswith the door 14, 16 as the door 14, 16 moves from the closed positionto the open position, the seat 18 is positioned to allow the occupant toconveniently embark and disembark the seat 18.

The vehicle 10 may be any suitable type of vehicle 10, e.g., anautomobile, including a sedan, a pick-up truck, a sport-utility vehicle10, etc. As set forth above, the vehicle 10 may be an autonomous vehicle10. For example, the vehicle 10 may have a computer that may control theoperations of the vehicle 10 in an autonomous mode, a semi-autonomousmode, or a non-autonomous mode. For purposes of this disclosure, anautonomous mode is defined as one in which each of vehicle 10propulsion, braking, and steering are controlled by the computer; in asemi-autonomous mode the computer controls one or two of vehicles 10propulsion, braking, and steering; in a non-autonomous mode, a humanoperator controls the vehicle 10 propulsion, braking, and steering.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the vehicle 10 includes the body 12. Thebody 12 includes the rocker 34, the forward pillar 40, and the rearwardpillar 42. As shown in the Figures, the body 12 has a unibodyconstruction, i.e., a unitary-body construction. In the unibodyconstruction, the body 12, e.g., rockers 34, serves as the vehicleframe, and the body 12 (including the rockers 34, the pillars 40, 42,roof beams 48, etc.) is unitary, i.e., a continuous one-piece unit. Asanother example not shown in the Figures, the body and a frame of thevehicle 10 may have a body-on-frame construction (also referred to as acab-on-frame construction). In other words, the body and frame areseparate components, i.e., are modular, and the body is supported on andaffixed to the frame. Alternatively, the body and frame may have anysuitable construction. The body and/or the frame may be formed of anysuitable material, for example, steel, aluminum, etc.

As set forth above, the body 12 has the longitudinal axis L. Thelongitudinal axis L extends along a vehicle-forward direction and avehicle-rearward direction. The vehicle 10 includes a left side 44 and aright side 46 spaced from each other along the cross-vehicle directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The left side 44 and the rightside 46 may each include one rocker 34, one forward pillar 40, onerearward pillar 42, and doors 14, 16. Common numerals are used toidentify common features of the left side 44 and the right side 46. Theleft side 44 and the right side 46 may be mirror images of each otherabout the longitudinal axis L, or at least may include several featuresthat are mirror images about the longitudinal axis L.

The rockers 34 are elongated along the longitudinal axis L. The forwardpillar 40 and the rearward pillar 42 may be fixed to the rocker 34 andextend upwardly from the rocker 34 to the roof beam 48. The forwardpillar 40 and the rearward pillar 42 are fixed to the respective rocker34.

The body 12 defines the door opening 50 between the forward pillar 40and the rearward pillar 42, and between the rocker 34 and the roof beam48. The forward pillar 40 and the rearward pillar 42 are spaced fromeach other along the longitudinal axis L. Specifically, the forwardpillar 40 and the rearward pillar 42 may be disposed on opposite sidesof the door opening 50. For example, the forward pillar 40 may bereferred to as an A-pillar. The rearward pillar 42 may be referred to asa C-pillar (and the body 12 does not include a pillar between the firstpillar 16 and the second pillar 18 typically referred to as a B-pillar).

The door opening 50 extends continuously from the forward pillar 40 tothe rearward pillar 42, and extends continuously from the rocker 34 tothe roof beam 48. The vehicle structure 10 may assist with the ingressand/or egress of the occupant through the door opening 50 because thedoor opening extends continuously from the forward pillar 40 to therearward pillar 42. The increased size of the door opening 20, forexample, may be useful in an autonomous vehicle.

As set forth above, the door 14, 16 is supported by the body 12 of thevehicle 10. Specifically, the vehicle 10 includes a plurality of doors14, 16 supported by the body 12. The vehicle 10 may include a front door14 and a rear door 16. The front door 14 and the rear door 16 areadjacent to each other in the closed position. The front door 14 and therear door 16 may abut each other between the forward pillar 40 and therearward pillar 42 when the door 14, 16 and the second door 14, 16 arein the closed position.

Both the right side 46 and the left side 44 of the vehicle 10 mayinclude a front door 14 and a rear door 16. In this configuration, thefront doors 14 may be spaced from each other on opposite sides of thelongitudinal axis L, and the rear doors 16 may be spaced from each otheron opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L. The vehicle 10,alternatively, may have any suitable number of doors 14, 16. Commonnumerals are used to identify common features of the doors 14, 16.

The doors 14, 16 are moveable relative to the body 12 between the closedposition, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, and the open position, as shownin FIG. 2. Each door 14, 16 may be moveable between the open and closedpositions independently of each other. In other words, any one of thedoors 14, 16 may be open or closed regardless of the opposition of theother doors 14, 16. The rockers 34 are below the doors 14, 16 when thedoors 14, 16 are in the closed position. When the doors 14, 16 are inthe closed position, the doors 14, 16 retain occupants in the vehicle10. When the doors 14, 16 are in the open position, the doors 14, 16allow occupant ingress and egress.

The doors 14, 16 may be hinged to the body 12. In other words, a hinge(not numbered) may be between each door 14, 16 and the body 12. Thefront doors 14 may be hinged to the forward pillars 40, and the reardoors 16 may be hinged to the rearward pillars 42. The door 14, 16 mayinclude a door outer 28, a door inner 30, and a reinforcement 32 betweenthe door outer 28 and the door inner 30.

The doors 14, 16 may be automatically and/or manually moveable betweenthe open and closed positions. For automatic movement, the vehicle 10may include door motors 52 between the body 12 and the doors 14, 16 tomove the doors 14, 16 relative to the body 12 between the open positionand the closed position. The vehicle 10 may include an input device todetect the occupant. For example, the input device may be a keypad onthe body 12. As another example, the input device may be a proximitysensor that senses an identifier, e.g., a key fob, a mobile phone, etc.As another example, the input device may be a push button on a key fob.The vehicle 10 may include a computer, e.g., a door module and/or a doorlock module, that controls operation of the door motors 52 based on theinput device. For manual movement, the doors 14, 16 may have handles 64that may be manually grasped to open the doors 14, 16.

The door outer 28 may be fixed to the door inner 30 by flanging,welding, or in any other suitable fashion. The door 14, 16 may include atrim panel 54 fixed to the door inner 30 in any suitable way, e.g.,threaded fasteners, clips, push-pins, Christmas-tree fasteners, etc. Thedoor outer 28 and the door inner 30 may be formed of metal (e.g.,aluminum, steel, etc.), composite material (e.g., fiber reinforcedthermoplastic, sheet molding compound (SMC), etc., or any suitablematerial. The door outer 28 may have a class-A surface facingexteriorly, i.e., a surface specifically manufactured to have ahigh-quality, finished aesthetic appearance free of blemishes. The trimpanel 54 may be formed of plastic, foam, leather, vinyl, etc. andcombinations thereof. The trim panel 54 may have a class-A surfacefacing the passenger cabin, i.e., a surface specifically manufactured tohave a high-quality, finished aesthetic appearance free of blemishes.

The reinforcement 32 may be disposed between the door outer 28 and thedoor inner 30, i.e., may be sandwiched between the door outer 28 and thedoor inner 30. Since the trim panel 54 is mounted to the door inner 30,the reinforcement may also be between the door outer 28 and the trimpanel 54. The reinforcement 32 is fixed relative to the door outer 28and the door inner 30, and may be fixed to the door outer 28 and/or thedoor inner 30. The reinforcement 32 may be of any suitable size andshape and, for example, may be disposed proximate the rocker 34 relativeto the rest of the door 14, 16. The reinforcement 32 may be formed ofmetal (e.g., aluminum, steel, etc.), composite material (e.g., fiberreinforced thermoplastic, sheet molding compound (SMC), etc., or anysuitable material.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the vehicle 10 includes lockingmembers 36 between the rocker 34 and any one or all doors 14, 16. Inother words, locking members 36 may be between the rocker 34 and thefront door 14 of the left side, locking members 36 may be between therocker 34 and the rear door 16 of the left side 44, locking members 36may be between the rocker 34 and the front door 14 of the right side 46,and locking members 36 may be between the rocker 34 and the rear door 16of the right side 46.

The locking members 36 are fixed to the rocker 34 and the reinforcement32 of the door 14, 16. In such a configuration, the locking members 36tie the reinforcement 32 of the door 14, 16 to the rocker 34 toreinforce the door 14, 16. In other words, with the reinforcement 32 ofthe door 14, 16 locked to the rocker 34, forces are transferred from thedoor 14, 16 to the rocker 34, e.g., during a vehicle 10 impact, toreinforce the door 14, 16.

The locking members 36 releasably lock the rocker 34 and the door 14, 16to each other. The locking members 36 may include a striker 56 on one ofthe door 14, 16 and the rocker 34, and a latch 58 releasably engageablewith the striker 56 on the other of the door 14, 16 and the rocker 34.The latch 58 may be engageable between the locked position, in which thestriker 56 is engaged with the latch 58, and the unlocked position, inwhich the striker 56 is disengaged with the latch 58. In the lockedposition, the latch 58 prevents the door 14, 16 from pivoting relativeto the pillar 40, 42. In the unlocked position, the latch 58 allows thedoor 14, 16 to pivot relative to the pillar 40, 42. When the door 14, 16is in the closed position, the latch 58 may be designed to receive thestriker 56. In other words, the latch 58 may be sized, shaped, andpositioned to receive the striker 58 when the door 14, 16 is in theclosed position.

As another example, the locking members 36 may include a retractablepost (not shown) on one of the rocker 34 and the door 14, 16, and a slot(not shown) releasably engageable with the retractable post on the otherof the rocker 34 and the door 14, 16. The post may be moveable betweenthe locked position, in which the retractable post is engaged with theslot, and the unlocked position, in which the retractable post isdisengaged with the slot. Alternatively, the locking members 36 may beof any suitable type, e.g., any type of latch/striker, any type ofpost/keeper, solenoid actuated pins/slots, etc.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, the vehicle 10 may include lockingmembers 38 between the front door 14 and the rear door 16. The lockingmembers 38 may releasably lock the door 14, 16 and the second door 14,16 to each other when the door 14, 16 and the second door 14, 16 are inthe closed position.

The locking members 38 are fixed to the front door 14 and the rear door16. For example, the locking members 38 may be fixed to thereinforcements 32 of the front door 14 and the rear door 16. In such aconfiguration, the locking members 38 tie the reinforcements 32 of thefront door 14 and the rear door 16 to each other to reinforce both thefront door 14 and the rear door 16. In other words, with thereinforcement 32 of the front door 14 locked to the reinforcement 32 ofthe rear door 16, forces are transferred between the front door 14 andthe rear door 16, e.g., during a vehicle 10 impact, to reinforce thefront door 14 and the rear door 16. The locking members 38 between thefront door 14 and the rear door 16 be of the same type as the lockingmembers 36 described above, or may be of any suitable type. As oneexample, the locking members 38 may include a striker 60 and a latch 62releasably engageable with each other.

The input device and/or handles 64 for automatic movement and manualmovement, respectively, of the doors 14, 16 between the open and closedpositions, as set forth above, may also trigger the locking members 36,38. For example, in order to enter the vehicle 10, the input device mayunlock the locking members 36, 38 and automatically move one or moredoors 14, 16 to the open position. The computer, e.g., door moduleand/or door lock module, of the vehicle 10 may control operation of thelocking members 36, 38 based on the input device. As another example,the handle 64 may be in mechanical or electronical communication withthe locking members to unlock the locking members when the handle 64 ismanually grasped by a person wishing to enter the vehicle 10.

The vehicle 10 includes at least one seat 18. For example, as shown inthe Figures, the vehicle 10 may include four seats 18. Specifically, thevehicle 10 may include a seat 18 on each door 14, 16 of the left side 44and of the right side 46.

The seat 18 is fixed relative to the door 14, 16. For example, the seat18 may be fixed directly to the door 14, 16, or may be fixed relative tothe door 14, 16 through an intermediate component. In any event, theseat 18 moves with the door 14, 16 as the door 14, 16 moves between theopen and closed positions. When the door 14, 16 is in the open position,the weight of the seat 18 is supported entirely by the door 14, 16. Whenthe door 14, 16 is in the closed position, the weight of the seat 18 issupported by the door 14, 16. Specifically, when the door 14, 16 is inthe closed position, the weight of the seat 18 may be supported entirelyby the door 14, 16, or may be supported both by the door 14, 16 and afloor 68 of the vehicle 10.

The seat 18 includes the seat bottom 22. The seat 18 may include theseat back 20, and the seat back 20 may be supported by the seat bottom22 and may be stationary or movable relative to the seat bottom 22,e.g., the seat back 20 may recline relative to the seat bottom 22.Alternatively, the seat 18 may not include the seat back 20, i.e., theoccupant may be supported on the seat bottom 22 and lean back againstthe door 14, 16.

The seat 18 may be a bucket seat, a bench seat, or another type of seat.The seat 18 may include seat belts (not shown) for retaining theoccupant in the seat 18 when the seat belt is utilized. The seat 18 mayinclude a head restraint (not shown). The head restraint may besupported by the seat back 20 and may be stationary or movable relativeto the seat back 20.

The seat bottom 22 and/or the seat back 20 may include a frame and acovering supported on the frame. The frame may include tubes, beams,etc. The frame may be formed of any suitable plastic material, e.g.,carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass fiber-reinforcedsemi-finished thermoplastic composite (organosheet), etc. As anotherexample, some or all components of the frame may be formed of a suitablemetal, e.g., steel, aluminum, etc. The covering may include upholsteryand padding. The upholstery may be formed of cloth, leather, fauxleather, or any other suitable material. The upholstery may be stitchedin panels around the frame. The padding may be between the covering andthe frame, and may be foam or any other suitable material.

The seat 18 includes a track 24 fixed to the door 14, 16. The track 24may be supported by the reinforcement 32. For example, the track 24 maybe fixed directly to the reinforcement 32 with, for example, fasteners,welds, etc. The track 24 may include two rails 70, as shown in theFigures. The seat bottom 22 may include two shuttles 72 slideablyengaged with the two rails 70.

The track 24 supports the rest of the seat 18 on the door 14, 16.Specifically, the track 24 supports the seat bottom 22 on the door 14,16. The seat bottom 22, for example, may include posts extendingdownwardly and engaged with the track 24. The track 24 may also supportthe seat back 20 on the door 14, 16. Specifically, the seat back 20 maybe supported on the track 24 indirectly through the seat bottom 22, ormay be directly in contact with and directly supported on the track 24.

The track 24 may be cantilevered from the door 14, 16, e.g., when thedoor 14, 16 is in the open position. The track 24 and/or the seat bottom22 may include a bracket 66 that engages and is supported on the floor68 of the vehicle 10 when the door 14, 16 is in the closed position. Thebracket 66 may be at a distal end of the track 24.

The seat bottom 22 extends from the seat back 20 toward the longitudinalaxis L along a cross-vehicle direction perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis L when the door 14, 16 is in the closed position. For example, whenthe front door 14 of the left side 44 and the front door 14 of the rightside 46 are in the closed position, the seat bottoms 22 may extend fromthe respective seat back 20 toward each other. In other words, the seatbottom 22 of the seat 18 on the front door 14 of the left side 44extends from the seat back 20 of the seat 18 on the front door 14 of theleft side 44 toward the seat 18 on the front door 14 of the right side46; and the seat bottom 22 of the seat 18 on the front door 14 of theright side 46 extends from the seat back 20 of the seat 18 on the frontdoor 14 of the right side 46 toward the seat 18 on the front door 14 ofthe left side 44. Similarly, the seat bottom 22 of the seat 18 on thedoor 14, 16 of the left side 44 extends from the seat back 20 on therear door 16 of the left side 44 toward the seat 18 on the rear door 16of the right side 46; and the seat bottom 22 of the seat 18 on the reardoor 16 of the left side 44 extends from the seat back 20 of the seat 18on the rear door 16 of the right side 46 toward the seat 18 on the reardoor 16 of the left side 44.

The seat bottom 22 may extend from the seat back 20 along thelongitudinal axis L when the doors 14, 16 are in the open position. Whenthe front door 14 and the adjacent rear door 16 are in the openposition, the seat bottoms 22 of the front seat 18 and rear seat 18 mayextend from the respective seat back 20 toward each other. For example,when the front door 14 and the rear door 16 of the left side 44 are inthe open position, the seat bottom 22 on the front door 14 of the leftside 44 extends from the seat back 20 on the front door 14 of the leftside 44 toward the seat 18 on the rear door 16 of the left side 44; andthe seat bottom 22 on the rear door 16 of the left side 44 extends fromthe seat back 20 on the rear door 16 of the left side 44 toward the seat18 on the front door 14 of the left side 44. Similarly, when the frontdoor 14 and the rear door 16 of the right side are in the open position,the seat bottom 22 on the front door 14 of the right side 46 extendsfrom the seat back 20 on the front door 14 of the right side 46 towardthe seat 18 on the rear door 16 of the right side 46; and the seatbottom 22 on the rear door 16 of the right side 46 extends from the seatback 20 on the rear door 16 of the right side 46 toward the seat 18 onthe front door 14 of the right side 46.

The seat bottom 22 may be moveable along the track 24. The seat bottom22 and the seat back 20 may move together as a unit relative to thetrack 24. For example, the seat bottom 22 and the seat back 20 may bemoveable along the track 24 toward and away from the door 14, 16.Specifically, the shuttles 72 of the seat bottom 22 slide along therails 70 to move the seat bottom 22 relative to the track 24 and thedoor 14, 16.

The seat bottom 22 and the seat back 20 may be moveable along the track24 in the cross-vehicle direction when the door 14, 16 is in the closedposition. Accordingly, when the door 14, 16 is in the closed position,the occupant may move the seat bottom 22 and the seat back 20 to adesired position inside the vehicle 10. As another example, the seatbottom 22 and the seat back 20 may be moveable along the track 24 whenthe door 14, 16 is in the open position to position the seat bottom 22and/or the seat back 20 for easier loading and/or unloading of thepassenger.

The vehicle 10 may include the seat motor 26, which is engaged with theseat bottom 22, e.g., the shuttles 72, and the track 24, e.g., the rails70, to move the seat bottom 22 and the seat back 20 along the track 24.The seat motor 26 may be of any suitable type. The seat motor 26 may beautomatically operated and/or manually operated. For example, thevehicle 10 may include an input device (e.g., the same input device thatoperates the door motors 52, or a different input device) that controlsthe motors 26, 52. The input device may, for example, be a button or atouch screen on the body 12 or the seat 18 to allow the occupant of theseat 18 to manually control the seat motor 26.

The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it isto be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended tobe in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Manymodifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible inlight of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described.

1. A vehicle comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis; a doorsupported by the body and moveable relative to the body between open andclosed positions; and a seat fixed relative to the door and including aseat back and a seat bottom; the seat bottom extending from the seatback toward the longitudinal axis along a cross-vehicle directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the door is in the closedposition.
 2. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the seatincludes a track fixed to the door, and the track supports the seatbottom on the door.
 3. The vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein thetrack is cantilevered from the door.
 4. The vehicle as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the seat bottom is moveable along the track in thecross-vehicle direction when the door is in the closed position.
 5. Thevehicle as set forth in 4, further comprising a seat motor engaged withthe seat bottom and the track to move the seat bottom along the track.6. The vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein the door includes a doorouter, a door inner, and a reinforcement between the door outer and thedoor inner, the track being supported by the reinforcement.
 7. Thevehicle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a rocker below thedoor in the closed position, and locking members between the rocker andthe door, the locking members releasably locking the rocker and the doorto each other.
 8. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising a rocker below the door in the closed position, wherein thedoor includes a door outer, a door inner, and a reinforcement betweenthe door outer and the door inner, and further comprising lockingmembers releasably locking the rocker and the door to each other.
 9. Thevehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the door includes a door outer,a door inner, and a reinforcement between the door outer and the doorinner, the track being supported by the reinforcement.
 10. The vehicleas set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second door supported bythe body and moveable relative to the body between open and closedpositions, and a second seat fixed relative to the second door, thesecond seat including a seat back and a seat bottom, the seat back andthe seat bottom of the second seat extending from the seat back of thesecond seat toward the longitudinal axis along the cross-vehicledirection when the second door is in the closed position
 11. The vehicleas set forth in claim 10, wherein the door and the second door areadjacent to each other in the closed position, and further comprisinglocking members between the door and the second door, the lockingmembers releasably locking the door and the second door to each otherwhen the door and the second door are in the closed position.
 12. Thevehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein, when the door and the seconddoor are in the open position, the seat bottom of the seat extends fromthe seat back of the seat toward the second seat, and the seat bottom ofthe second seat extends from the seat back of the second seat toward theseat.
 13. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, further comprising aforward pillar, a rearward pillar, and a door opening extendingcontinuously from the forward pillar to the rearward pillar, the doorbeing hinged to the forward pillar, and the second door being hinged tothe rearward pillar.
 14. The vehicle as set forth in claim 13, whereinthe door and the second door abut each other between the forward pillarand the rearward pillar when the door and the second door are in theclosed position.
 15. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein thedoor and the second door are spaced from each other on opposite sides ofthe longitudinal axis.
 16. The vehicle as set forth in claim 15,wherein, when the door and the second door are in the closed position,the seat bottom of the seat extends from the seat back of the seattoward the second seat, and the seat bottom of the second seat extendsfrom the seat back of the second seat toward the seat.
 17. The vehicleas set forth in claim 1, further comprising a door motor between thebody and the door to move the door relative to the body between the openposition and the closed position.
 18. The vehicle as set forth in claim1 wherein the seat bottom extends from the seat back to an end spacedfrom the seatback, and the seat bottom extends in the cross-vehicledirection from the seat back to the end when the door is in the closedposition.
 19. A vehicle comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis; adoor supported by the body and moveable about a rotational axis relativeto the body between open and closed positions; and a seat fixed relativeto the door and moveable as a unit with the door about the rotationalaxis between the open and closed positions, the seat including a seatback and a seat bottom; the seat bottom extending from the seat backtoward the longitudinal axis along a cross-vehicle directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the door is in the closedposition.
 20. The vehicle as set forth in claim 19, wherein the seatincludes a track fixed to the door, the track supports the seat bottomon the door, and the seat bottom is moveable along the track in thecross-vehicle direction when the door is in the closed position.